According to the 1421 hypothesis, between 1421 and 1423, during the Ming Dynasty of China, a fleet of Chinese ships traveled to many parts of the world unknown to contemporary Europe, including Australia, New Zealand, the Americas, Antarctica, Greenland, and the Northeast Passage. The hypothesis is allegedly based on evidence from shipwrecks, old maps, Chinese documents, and accounts by navigators such as Christopher Columbus. Why have professional historians largely dismissed this hypothesis?More...

In 1943, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was deposed by his own government. When German forces discovered that he was being held at a ski resort in the Apennine Mountains, they launched a daring rescue. Arriving on gliders, German troops overwhelmed Mussolini's captors and spirited him away without firing a shot. The operation was a major propaganda success for the Nazis. According to some accounts, what was Mussolini's reply when the paratroopers told him that Adolf Hitler had sent them?More...

Often regarded as one of the most influential American writers of the early 20th century, Mencken was a journalist, satirist, social critic, and cynic known as the "Sage of Baltimore," for the city where he lived his entire life. Perhaps best remembered for his satirical reporting on the Scopes evolution trial, which he dubbed the "Monkey trial," Mencken was frequently critical of myriad institutions. Why did the Arkansas legislature pass a motion in 1931 to pray for Mencken's soul?More...

Quotation of the Day

Beth could not reason upon or explain the faith that gave her courage and patience to give up life, and cheerfully wait for death...She could not say, "I'm glad to go," for life was very sweet for her. She could only sob out, "I try to be willing."

Defenders' Day, a legal holiday in Maryland, celebrates the anniversary of the battle of North Point. The battle took place near Baltimore on September 12, 1814; two days later, the unsuccessful British attack on Baltimore's Fort McHenry inspired Francis Scott Key to jot down the words of "The Star-Spangled Banner." For this reason the two events are celebrated more or less in conjunction on September 12. Defenders' Day is celebrated with a number of patriotic events, including an annual mock bombardment of the fort on the weekend nearest September 12.More...

Letting a canine companion into the bedroom at night can divide couples and families. While some argue that all that doggy snoring will ruin their sleep, others love nothing more than a nighttime cuddle with their furry friend. However, science may now ...More...

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